Dr. John began making his own idiosyncratic music in the 1960s. Along with Professor Longhair, Dr. John is heir to the rich New Orleans tradition. He is perhaps best known for "Right Place, Wrong Time", an international hit in 1973, reissued and used on soundtracks many times since.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, his professional musical career began as a session musician in New Orleans in the 1950s. Early on he also played guitar and was often known as Mac Rebennack. He switched to the bass ("the lowest time of my life"), and then the piano after his index finger was nearly shot off protecting his bandmate and longtime friend Ronnie Barron. He gained fame beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with music that combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock and stage shows that bordered on voodoo religious ceremonies, including elaborate costumes and headdress. For a time he was billed as Dr. John, The Night Tripper. The name "Dr. John" came from a legendary Louisiana voodoo practitioner from the start of the 19th century.
Dr. John has also done vocals for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits' "Luv dat chicken..." jingle, as well as the theme song ("My Opinionation") for the early-1990s television sitcom Blossom. His movie credits include Martin Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz (in which he joins The Band for a performance of his song "Such a Night") and Blues Brothers 2000 (in which he joins the fictional band The Louisiana Gator Boys to perform the song "New Orleans"). In the 2009 Disney film The Princess and the Frog, Dr. John sings the opening tune, "Down in New Orleans".
In January 2008 Mac Rebennack, Dr. John, was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.
I'm Gonna Go Fishin
Dr. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanting to cry
Then I remember
Yes I know why
She's a real good one for having her cake
I'm gonna go fishing or jump in the lake
Yeah, I'm gonna go fishing
Think about nothing
Not even you
Catch a real big one, a big speckled trout
Snapping in the water I'll pull him on out
Sweet talking liar
Spin me a yarn
Tell me a story
Big as a barn
Don't stop listening I won't hear you out
I'm gonna go fishing and catch me a trout
If a gal is a liar
A gal is a fool
Playing for keepers
and breaking the rules
She'll be the loser, yet to find out
I'm gonna go fishing and catch me a trout
Here in the water
Look at him shine
There goes a big one
That one is mine
Catch up the reel now, I've got the feel now
Hooked onto my fly rod I've got me a trout
Sweet talking liar
You're in for a fall
You tell me a story
You cut to the wall
Don't go my way, I'm down the highway
I'm gonna go fishing...
Yes I'm gonna go fishing...
Yes I'm gonna go fishing and get me some trout
The lyrics of Dr. John's "I'm Gonna Go Fishin" evoke powerful feelings of frustration and betrayal. The singer opens the song feeling as though he wants to cry, but then he remembers why he feels this way. He's been deceived by a woman who, as he puts it, is "a real good one for having her cake." Faced with the heartache of being lied to and cheated on, the singer decides to seek solace in the simple pleasure of fishing. He plans to catch a big, beautiful trout and revel in the sensation of the fight to haul it in.
As the lyrics progress, the singer's anger towards the woman who wronged him becomes clearer. He calls her a "sweet talking liar" who spins a tall tale with the best of them. But he's not interested in hearing her excuses or justifications - he's already made up his mind to go fishing. In the end, the song is a triumphant declaration of the power of the natural world to soothe even the most troubled soul.
Overall, "I'm Gonna Go Fishin" is a song about finding comfort and peace in the midst of turmoil. Whether you're angling for the biggest trout of your life or simply taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature, fishing can be a powerful balm for the soul. The song is a reminder of the importance of taking time for oneself, especially when the world feels overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning
I woke up feeling a bit down
Wanting to cry
I felt like crying
Then I remember
But then I remembered something
Yes I know why
And I realized why I was feeling that way
She's a real good one for having her cake
I am referring to a woman who is selfish and doesn't care about anyone else's feelings but her own
I'm gonna go fishing or jump in the lake
Instead of dwelling on this woman, I decided to go fishing or jump in the lake to take my mind off of things
Yeah, I'm gonna go fishing
I have made up my mind to go fishing
That's what I'll do
Fishing is what I have chosen to do to clear my head
Think about nothing
While fishing, I plan to think about nothing, not even my problems
Not even you
I will not even think about the woman who has caused me pain
Catch a real big one, a big speckled trout
I hope to catch a big fish, specifically a big speckled trout
Snapping in the water I'll pull him on out
I imagine the fish snapping in the water as I pull it out of the water
Sweet talking liar
This is another reference to the woman who deceived me
Spin me a yarn
She told me a story, possibly a lie, to deceive me
Tell me a story
She told me a tale, even though it was not true, to make me believe her
Big as a barn
Her story was huge and far from the truth
Don't stop listening I won't hear you out
I won't listen to her excuses or anything else she might have to say. I am done with her
If a gal is a liar
Once again, I am referring to the woman who deceived me
A gal is a fool
She is foolish for lying and trying to deceive me
Playing for keepers
She is playing games and trying to keep me interested in her
And breaking the rules
She is not abiding by any rules or moral code
She'll be the loser, yet to find out
She will be the one who loses in the end, and she doesn't even know it yet
Here in the water
This line refers to the environment I am currently in, being close to water
Look at him shine
I see a fish shining in the water, which excites me
There goes a big one
I see a big fish swimming in the water
That one is mine
I am determined to catch that fish
Catch up the reel now, I’ve got the feel now
I begin to reel in the fish I caught after I have hooked it
Hooked onto my fly rod I've got me a trout
I have caught a trout with my fly rod
You're in for a fall
This is another warning to the woman who deceived me that she will suffer consequences for her actions
You cut to the wall
She is trying to deceive me once again, but I won't let her
Don't go my way, I'm down the highway
Since she won't be honest with me, I will leave her and go my own way
Yes, I'm gonna go fishing...and get me some trout
Repeating the opening line, I am reaffirming my decision to go fishing and forget about my problems, and catch some delicious fish while I'm at it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELLINGTON, LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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